Dubai gas cylinder blast kills Indian maintenance worker in Al Mankhool

A gas cylinder explosion in Dubai’s Al Mankhool area on Wednesday, 5 August, resulted in the death of a 44-year-old Indian expat, identified as O.S. Shiju from Kerala. The blast occurred during a routine maintenance check inside the kitchen of a residential apartment, according to witness accounts from colleagues at the site. Investigation into maintenance safety Shiju, an employee of a local maintenance firm, was reportedly inspecting a suspected leak when the cylinder detonated. Emergency services arrived on the scene within minutes to secure the building and provide medical aid, but Shiju succumbed to his injuries at the site. A second worker sustained minor injuries and was treated at a nearby hospital before being discharged. A colleague who was present during the incident stated that the team was responding to a tenant’s complaint regarding the smell of gas. The explosion caused localized structural damage to the apartment’s kitchen area, though Dubai Civil Defense confirmed that the building’s overall integrity remained intact and no other residents were evacuated. Regulatory oversight and safety protocols The incident has prompted renewed warnings from Dubai authorities regarding the handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders. Current safety regulations in the UAE mandate that only licensed technicians perform repairs and that residents report gas odors immediately to building management or civil defense rather than attempting to investigate themselves.…